OMO3 Tokyo Akasaka by Hoshino Resorts

"Why book? The best it gets for cheap digs souped up with cheerful service and great access to the surrounding neighborhood and beyond. Set the scene Structurally, it reads like a business hotel, with slim, efficient rooms, but there’s a lot of soul in the small touches—designer bath products, adorable pillows and subtle design flourishes. The little lobby doubles as a planning zone where guests can lounge and scope out a mural full of neighborhood recommendations (QR codes are available to learn more in English). The backstory The premise of the OMO hotels is simple: graded from 1 to 9, each property promises a different level of accoutrement; the OMO3, in this case, slides more toward the no-frills end of the spectrum but plenty of comfort is still on offer. Rooms Clever design—like a headboard that transforms into a couch as it stretches beyond the bed—enlivens ergonomic spaces in this bright, budget fave. Food & drink Breakfast is served in the cafe next door; it may sound strange, but the thick-cut toast is spectacular. Neighborhood Akasaka, or red hill, has had many lives before its current incarnation as a bustling business district—it was once the domain of several prominent samurai families, and a thriving hanamachi, or geisha area. Today the neighborhood comes alive on OMO’s “Ranger Tours”; staff-led outings that take travelers to hidden shrines, shops and even a secret tea salon run by a former geisha. Hour-long tours are the outcome of six months of meticulous research by the OMO employees. Service Big smiles come standard at any Hoshino Resorts property; and while much of the clientele is Japanese, we’re hoping for a sprinkle of English for international Hoshino converts." - Brandon Presser